Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Hanley Ramirez continues to sit, but for how long?

In this file photo, Hanley Ramirez blasts a two-run homer in the third inning when the Dodgers played the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on June 18, 2014. This week, the Dodgers will play the Rockies in Denver. (Photo by John McCoy/Daily News file)

The Hanley Ramirez injury situation continues to linger for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Ramirez was out of the lineup on Wednesday for the eighth time in nine games. Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said a decision on Ramirez’s immediate future could come Thursday.

Ramirez has a sore throwing shoulder and a sore left calf. He started on Saturday but played just two innings, then pinch hit on Monday and Tuesday.

The Dodgers want to make sure he is 100 percent healthy before inserting him into the starting lineup everyday.

“We’d like to get him totally healthy. If he keeps playing nicked up, or part-time, it’s not good for anyone,” Mattingly said.

When the Dodgers start their series in Colorado on Thursday, there is cautious optimism that Ramirez will be back.

“He may be there, he may not,” Mattingly said. “I think we’ll find out in the next day or so.”

Mattingly said Ramirez’s shoulder and calf are still part of the equation.

“They’re trying to take care of both,” Ramirez said.

Ramirez is batting .271 with 11 home runs and 46 RBIs in 75 games this season for the Dodgers.

Ramirez also battled injuries last year, when he hit .345 with 20 home runs in 86 games. He missed time with multiple ailments, including a bruised shoulder and a hamstring injury.

In the final update in the Major League Baseball All-Star voting, Ramirez was fifth among National League shortstops with 974,464 votes. Ramirez started three consecutive All-Star Games at shortstop for the N.L. From 2008 to 2010.

Clayton Kershaw named National League’s Pitcher of the Month

Kershaw threw a no-hitter on June 18 and was 6-0 with an ERA of 0.82 during the month. He allowed four earned runs in 44 innings and had 61 strikeouts. Kershaw has not allowed a run in his last three starts, and boasts a streak of 24 scoreless innings.

Advertisement

Kershaw ended his month of stellar work by striking out 13 batters in seven innings during a 6-0 win over St. Louis.

He threw eight scoreless innings against Kansas City following his no-hitter.

Kershaw struck out 15 in his no-hitter against Colorado.

It marked the third Pitcher of the Month honor for Kershaw, who also won it in July of 2013 and July of 2011.

Yasiel Puig in line for All-Star nod

In the last update until the final starting squad is announced for the National League All-Star team, Yasiel Puig was third among outfielders with 3,001,907 votes behind Pittsburgh’s Andrew McCutchen (3,173,810) and Milwaukee’s Carlos Gomez (3,169,748). If Puig sticks in third place, he will get the start. But hot on Puig’s tail is Miami’s Giancarlo Stanton, who is in fourth place with 2,681,019 votes, and Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun, who is fifth with 2,509,770 votes.

Puig, who was out of the lineup on Wednesday for a day of rest, went into the game batting .312 with 11 home runs and 46 RBIs. Puig has 29 multi-hit games this year, which was tied for third most in the National League.

Other Dodgers in the top five in voting include Adrian Gonzalez, who is third among first baseman with 1,418,148 votes; Dee Gordon, who is third among second basemen with 1,374,523 votes; and Hanley Ramirez, who is fifth among shortstops with 974,464 votes.

Voting closes on Thursday at 8:59 p.m. Pacific Time. The All-Star Game is set for Target Field in Minneapolis on Tuesday, July 15. The All-Star team will be revealed on ESPN at 4 p.m. PT on Sunday.

Zack Greinke up next

The Dodgers have multiple pitchers who could get All-Star Game nods, including Clayton Kershaw, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Zack Greinke.

Greinke, who is slated to start the Dodgers’ opener in Colorado on Thursday against Franklin Morales (4-4, 5.75 ERA), is 10-4 with a 2.78 ERA. Greinke has had success in two starts against Colorado this season, going 1-0 with a 2.77 ERA. Greinke’s start at Colorado is the first game of a six-game road trip for the Dodgers, who will travel from Colorado to Detroit.